Stropping-machine.



L. A. PLINKER.

STROPPING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

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ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

LEON A. rnrnnnn, or new YORK, 1v. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE KEENOH COMPANY, orDETROIT, nrcnrenn, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

STBOIPPING-MACHINE specification 01 Letters Patent.

Application filed May 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Serial No. 493,824..

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, LEON A. FLINKER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and Stateof New York, have invented a certain new and useful Stropping- Machine,of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a razor sharpener involving certain novel features,among which may be mentioned means for automatically locking the bladeholder in its inoperative position, means for releasing said bladeholder from said position, and means for guiding the strep during thesharpening operatlon.

During the insertion and withdrawal of the blade with respect to theblade holder, it is desirable, if not necessary, that said holder beheld in a fixed position, and preferably intermediate the leads of thestrop, in order to avoid cutting the operator or the strop. It has beenthe practice heretofore to accomplish this result by means of manuallyoperated looks or catches of one form or another, but these complicatethe mechanism and require more or less time to operate.

The present invention overcomes these and other defects incidental toemploying the old type of locking mechanism, and it embodies meanswhereby the locking of the blade holder is effected automatically, andthe unlocking thereof by the normal operation of producing tension onthe strop while sharpening the blade.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodimentof the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understoodas illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cutlery sharpening machine embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally throughthe machine on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of thearrow. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asectional. view similar to Fi 2 with the blade holder unlocked and movedto a position wherein the edge of a blade will be engaged by the strop,the spring being flattened when the parts are in the position shown.

In carrying my invention into practice, I employ a substantially rigidframe, indicated in its entirety by the reference character, A. By theterm rigid frame I mean a frame which is non-spreadable in the mannershown and described in a prior Patent No. 870,279 granted to me Novemher5, 190? as sole owner. The form of frame shown in the drawings comprisesa main plate, a, ends, a, and arms, cf, the ends and arms being rigidwith the plate, all of said parts being preferably struck up from sheetmetal of appropriate gage. It will be understood that in manufacturingthe frame a blank of the required form is stamped from sheet metal, andthe end portions, at, are bent substantially at right angles to plate,a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. \Vhile it is preferred to stamp and bendthe frame from sheet metal, yet it is not desired to limit the inventionto this particular mode of procedure and the material specified, for thereason that the frame may, if desired, be composed of cast metal. Twoarms, a are provided on each end, a, and as shown in Fig. 2, these armsare spaced with relation to each other so as to leave an intermediateopening; or throat, a The back plate of the frame is provided with slotsor passages, Z), in which are positioned arms, 0, of a yoke, C, thelatter forming one part of a hanger or suspension means for the machine.The other part of the hanger con sists of a member, I), having an eye,(Z. The member, D, is fitted between arm, 0, of yoke, C, and said memberis connected pivotally to yoke, C, at cl. It is preferred to double orfold the hanger member, D, so as to produce a loop, 6Z2, through whichpasses the pivot pin, CZ, and said member, D, has its looped end fittedsnugly between the arms of yoke, 0, whereby the hanger memher, I), isprecluded from movement: in any direction other than on the axisafforded by the pivot or pivot pin, (Z. The yoke is positioned withinframe, A, substantially at the middle or central portion thereof, andthe arms, 0, of said yoke are fitted loosely in slots, Z), on the frameso that yoke, C, and frame, A, are capable of a limited sliding movementrelative to each other for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

E designates a blade holder herein shown as consisting of a plate, 6,and converging jaws, e. The blade holder is tapering in cross section,as shown in Fig. 2, and the jaws, e, are so disposed that they provide anarrow slit or opening through which the edge portion of a razor blademay protrude in order to engage frictionally with a movable strop, F.Said blade holder is supported within frame, A, for movement therein,and in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the bladeholder is pivotedto the frame for oscillating movement from side to sidethereof. The blade holder is positioned between the members, a, andarms, (H, at the respective ends of the frame, and said blade holder isprovided with ears or lugs, f, which are shown in Fig. 3 as lying closeto end members, a, of said frame. The lugs, f, are secured firmly to ashaft, g, on a roller, G, and this roller is journaled in the ends offrame, A, to have rocking or oscillating movement therein owing tofrictional engagement of said roller with strop, F, whereby the motionimparted to the roller by the action of the strop is communicated to theblade holder. Instead of securing the blade holder to the roller in themanner described, any other means may be employed for rigidly fasteningthe blade holder to the roller.

' For the purpose of holding yoke, C, in a predetermined relation toframe, A, I employ a suitable spring adapted to act against the frameand yoke respectively. Said spring is represented in the drawings as abowed or leaf spring, H, which passes through the yoke so as to engagetherewith, the end port-ions of said spring being seated on the backplate, a, of the frame, whereas the middle portion of the spring engageswith the yoke, see Figs. 1 and 3.

An important element of my invention consists of means for locking bladeholder, E, in its inoperative position within the machine when thestrop, F, is at rest, and this locking means consists of parts on guide,0, and roller, G, respectively. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the roller isprovided with a groove, h, and the yoke has a tongue, h, but, obviously,the tongue and groove may be transposed, as for example, by providingthe groove in the yoke and the tongue on the roller. This detail ofconstruction is so evident to a skilled mechanic that I have notconsidered it necessary to illustrate the same in the drawings. When notension is eXerted on strop, F, spring, H, presses frame, A, rearward oryoke, C, forwardly, and thus tongue, it, is forced into groove, h, ofroller, G, thereby locking the blade holder, E, in a fixed positioncentrally between the arms, a at the respective sides of the frame. Thisis an important advantage secured by my new construction for the reasonthat while a rigid or non-spreadable frame is employed, the blade holderis so securely held and looked that it cannot slip when the operator isengaged in inserting a blade into the holder or removing a bladetherefrom. This precludes the possibility of cutting the operators handsor the strop during the insertion or removal of a blade, said bladebeing shoved endwise into the blade holder and through the opening orthroat, a at one end of the frame.

For the purpose of holding the blade securely in the holder, it isdesirable to employ means for clamping said blade in holder, E. Onemeans for securing this result consists of a spring, I, and screw, J.Said spring is secured at one end by a rivet, 2', to the bottom plate,6, of the blade holder, and to the other end of the spring is attached afollower, 2'. Blade holder is provided with a rigid arm, j, having athreaded opening into which is screwed the adjusting screw, J. The innerend of this screw engages with the follower, z", of the spring, and whenthe screw is turned inwardly, it displaces the follower and bows ordeflects the spring, I, outwardly, whereby a blade is clamped in theholder by reason of the jaws, 6, engaging with the respective sides ofthe blade.

' The holder is adapted for the reception of different kinds of blades,such as the blades of ordinary razors, or the blades of safety razors.In using safety razor blades it may be necessary to employ an auxiliaryblade holder, but as a suitable blade holder of this type is disclosedin my prior patent, I have not considered it necessary to illus tratethe same in the drawings of this invention.

K, K, designate two guides for the strop, and L, L, are additionalguides for said strop. Each guide may consist of a pin, 70,- supportedin the frame and its arms, a but it is preferred to employ a roller, is,mounted loosely on the pin for the purpose of reducing the frictionalengagement of the strop with the guide, thus permitting the strop to runfreely through the machine. The guides, K, K, are positioned in theframe at the respective sides of roller, Gr, and quite close to backplate, a, of the frame. The additional strop guides, L, L, are supportedin the arms, (4 so that they occupy positions opposite to thelongitudinal slit of blade holder, E. The additional guides are sorelated to guides, K, K, that they deflect the respective leads ofstrop, F, inwardly toward the blade holder, and between the guides, K,L, and K, L, the strop is inclined for the purpose of securing a properangle of engagement between the respective leads of the strop and theblade. It will be observed, furthermore, that the additional guides, L,L, will present the leads of the strop in positions for engagement withthe razor blade at the edge of said blade, or just in rear of the edgethereof, and these guides thus serve important functions in my newmachine. In this connection, it is to be observed that I employ fourguides, thus simplifying the construction by reducing the number ofparts. As a matter of fact, the stropping machine is reduced to itssimplest form for the reason that a number of parts heretofore deemedessential are omitted, while at the same time, the machine is eflicientand reliable in operation, whereby I am enabled to substantially reducethe cost of manufacture of the improved machine.

The operation is as follow':--When it is desired to insert a blade ofany kind into the machine, the spring acts on yoke, C, to press itstongue into the groove of roller, G, whereby blade holder, E, is lockedfirmly and in a central position with respect to the frame and therespective leads of the strop as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Screw, J, isturned outwardly so that the spring, I, lies close to the bottom ofblade holder, E, and

the blade is inserted by an endwise movement into an open end of saidblade holder, said open end being opposite screw, J, and follower, i.The blade having been inserted, it is clamped in place by turning screw,J, inwardly, thereby deflecting spring, I, which presses the blade intoengagement with the jaws of blade holder, E. Hanger member, D, is fittedto a hook or any other suitable fixture, and the operator grasps thehandles, F, at the outer ends of the respective leads forming the strop,F. When pull is exerted on the strop, it acts on guides, K, K, and movesframe, A, forwardly against the tension of spring, I-I, said spring, H,being flattened and the relative positions of the parts being shown inFig. l. The effect of this operation is to withdraw tongue, 72,, fromengagement with groove, it, in roller, Gr, whereby the pull on one leadof the strop unlocks holder, E, so that the frictional engagement ofstrop with roller, G, will swing blade holder, E, in one direction, asshown in Fig. l, so as to present one side of the razor edge forengagement with one load of the strop. When the strop is drawn asufficient distance in one direction, the operator pulls on the otherlead of the strop,thus reversing the direction of its movement, and whenthe pull is first exerted on said other lead of the strop, roller, G,and blade holder, E, are shifted promptly in the other direction or to areverse position for the purpose of presenting the other edge of therazor into engagement with said other lead of the strop. The operationof pulling on the leads of the strop alternately is continued for anindefinite number of times, and until the blade is properly sharpened,but when the pull is re leased on the strop, spring, H, again operatesto move frame, A, rearwardly with drawn from the holder, E, and themachine.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stropping machine, a blade holder, a roller cooperatingtherewith, and locking mechanism rearwardly and intermediate the ends ofthe roller for securing said blade holder in its inoperative position.

2. In a stropping machine, the combination of a frame, a rollerjournaled in said frame, a blade-holder supported by said roller andmovable therewith relative to the frame, a strop positioned intermediatethe blade-holder and the roller, said strop partially covering thatsurface of the roller which is in opposing relation to said bladeholder,and a locking device positioned for locking engagement with that surfaceof the roller which is uncovered by the strop.

3. In a stropping machine, the combina tion of a frame, a rollerjournalcd in said frame, a. blade-holder carried by and movable withsaid roller, a strop engaging frictionally with that part of the surfaceof the roller which is in opposing relation to the blade-holder, theremainder of the surface of said roller being uncovered by the strop,and a spring positioned rearwardly of the roller and cooperating withthe exposed surface thereof intermediate the ends of said roller.

l. In a 'azor sharpener, the combination of a holding frame, ablade-holding member adapted to oscillate therein, bearing rollersrotatably mounted in said frame, a strap member passing over saidrollers, adapted to frictionally engage said blade holding member, and aspring member engaging against said blade holding member, whereby it isyieldingly hold in neutral position with respect to the extremes of itspossible path of travel, substantially as described.

5. In a razor sharpener, in combination with a blade-holding member, aframe wherein said member is journaled in position to oscillate along alimited path of travel, a strap member adapted to engage saidblade-holding member whereby i is alternately actuated against theextremes of its possible path of travel, roll rs journaled in the frame,and over which said strap is drawn, and a spring member mounted in saidframe and adapted to yieldingly engage against said blade-holdingmember, thereby causing it to return to the middle of the possible pathof travel upon the cessation of actuating strain upon the strap member,substantially as described.

blade-holder attached to and movable with said roller, a strop operatingbetween the blade-holder and the roller, said strop covering a part ofthe surface of the roller and engaging frictionally therewith forimparting oscillatory movement to the bladeholder, and a retainingdevice cooperating with the exposed surface of said roller and operatingto normally position the bladeholder substantially midway between thetwo extreme positions into which said bladeholder is shifted by theaction of the strop upon the roller.

7. In a stropping machine, the combination of a frame, a rollerjournaled therein, a blade holder carried by and movable with theroller, said blade holder being spaced relative to the roller for thepassage of a strop between the roller and blade-holder, a strop engagingfrictionally with that surface of the roller which is opposite to thebladeholder, two guide rollers mounted in the frame at the respectivesides of the first roller and over which guide rollers the strop passesto produce a bight for engagement with the first roller, other guidemembers mounted in the frame opposite to the end portion of the bladeholder, and a retaining device cooperating with that surface of theroller left uncovered by the strop, said retaining device acting on theroller to normally position it substantially midway be tween the guidemembers.

8. In a stropping machine, the combination of a frame, a rollerjournaled therein, a blade-holder carried by and movable with saidroller, two guide rollers mounted in the frame at the respective sidesof the first roller, a strop passing over the two guide rollers andbeneath the first roller, said strop partially covering that surface ofthe first roller which opposes the blade holder and frictionallyengaging with said roller for imparting oscillatory movement to theblade-holder, other strop guides mounted in the frame and positioned atthe respective sides of the frame at the outer end of said blade-holder,the distance between said strop guides being less than the distancebetween the two guide rollers whereby the runs of the strop are inclinedtoward each other at the respective sides of the blade-holder and aretaining device cooperating with the exposed surface of the firstroller and operating to normally position the blade-holder substantiallymidway between the two strop guides.

WILLIAM C. HARRIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

